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[141]
Hereupon Saul returned home with joy, for the glorious things he
had done, and for the conquest of his enemies, as though he had not neglected
any thing which the prophet had enjoined him to do when he was going to
make war with the Amalekites, and as though he had exactly observed all
that he ought to have done. But God was grieved that the king of the Amalekites
was preserved alive, and that the multitude had seized on the cattle for
a prey, because these things were done without his permission; for he thought
it an intolerable thing that they should conquer and overcome their enemies
by that power which he gave them, and then that he himself should be so
grossly despised and disobeyed by them, that a mere man that was a king
would not bear it. He therefore told Samuel the prophet, that he repented
that he had made Saul king, while he did nothing that he had commanded
him, but indulged his own inclinations. When Samuel heard that, he was
in confusion, and began to beseech God all that night to be reconciled
to Saul, and not to be angry with him; but he did not grant that forgiveness
to Saul which the prophet asked for, as not deeming it a fit thing to grant
forgiveness of [such] sins at his entreaties, since injuries do not otherwise
grow so great as by the easy tempers of those that are injured; or while
they hunt after the glory of being thought gentle and good-natured, before
they are aware they produce other sins. As soon therefore as God had rejected
the intercession of the prophet, and it plainly appeared he would not change
his mind, at break of day Samuel came to Saul at Gilgal. When the king
saw him, he ran to him, and embraced him, and said, "I return thanks
to God, who hath given me the victory, for I have performed every thing
that he hath commanded me." To which Samuel replied, "How is
it then that I hear the bleating of the sheep and the lowing of the greater
cattle in the camp?" Saul made answer, "That the people had reserved
them for sacrifices; but that, as to the nation of the Amalekites, it was
entirely destroyed, as he had received it in command to see done, and that
no one man was left; but that he had saved alive the king alone, and brought
him to him, concerning whom, he said, they would advise together what should
be done with him." But the prophet said, "God is not delighted
with sacrifices, but with good and with righteous men, who are such as
follow his will and his laws, and never think that any thing is well done
by them but when they do it as God had commanded them; that he then looks
upon himself as affronted, not when any one does not sacrifice, but when
any one appears to be disobedient to him. But that from those who do not
obey him, nor pay him that duty which is the alone true and acceptable
worship, he will not kindly accept their oblations, be those they offer
ever so many and so fat, and be the presents they make him ever so ornamental,
nay, though they were made of gold and silver themselves, but he will reject
them, and esteem them instances of wickedness, and not of piety. And that
he is delighted with those that still bear in mind this one thing, and
this only, how to do that, whatsoever it be, which God pronounces or commands
for them to do, and to choose rather to die than to transgress any of those
commands; nor does he require so much as a sacrifice from them. And when
these do sacrifice, though it be a mean oblation, he better accepts of
it as the honor of poverty, than such oblations as come from the richest
men that offer them to him. Wherefore take notice, that thou art under
the wrath of God, for thou hast despised and neglected what he commanded
thee. How dost thou then suppose that he will respect a sacrifice out of
such things as he hath doomed to destruction? unless perhaps thou dost
imagine that it is almost all one to offer it in sacrifice to God as to
destroy it. Do thou therefore expect that thy kingdom will be taken from
thee, and that authority which thou hast abused by such insolent behavior,
as to neglect that God who bestowed it upon thee." Then did Saul confess
that he had acted unjustly, and did not deny that he had sinned, because
he had transgressed the injunctions of the prophet; but he said that it
was out of a dread and fear of the soldiers, that he did not prohibit and
restrain them when they seized on the prey. "But forgive me,"
said he, "and be merciful to me, for I will be cautious how I offend
for the time to come." He also entreated the prophet to go back with
him, that he might offer his thank-offerings to God; but Samuel went home,
because he saw that God would not be reconciled to him.
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